Tattoos are difficult to remove without damaging the skin, in the past methods of removing tattoos have involved trying to remove the layers of skin by scraping, burning or surgery.
A relatively new method is IPL tattoo removal where pulsed light (of selected light frequencies) targets the tattoo pigmentation under the skin. The coloured tattoo pigment is fragmented (broken down) and is then removed by the bodies own natural mechanisms, leaving the surface of the skin intact.
Skin Types
The skin type is very important for successful tattoo removal using IPL, and the system of classification developed by Thomas B. Fitzpatrick, MD, PhD, of Harvard Medical School in 1975 is used. This is based on the persons complexion and the way they react to the sun; e.g. do they tan or do they burn?
At one end of the classification is the type of skin that always burns and never tans; type I. People with this type of skin colour can often be described as having a ‘peaches and cream’ complexion. It is some time associated with red hair, and is the skin type most likely associated with Rosacea.
The type of skin at the other end of the Fitzpatrick Skin Type scale never burns and is deeply pigmented, type VI. People with this type rarely suffer from rosacea.
Genetic predisposition
It is known that genetic disposition (eye colours, hair colour, freckles) affects tattoo removal using IPL, and a caution is that if the persons nationality is Afro-American, Greek or Italian, they may be prone to hypo-pigmentation (loss of proper skin colour). Rosacea is less likely to affect people of these nationalities and is more likely to affect people with a different genetic predisposition.
Pale or Dark Skin?
Skin types vary from type 1 (pale) to type VI (deeply pigmented). In respect of tattoo removal using IPL, clients with pale skin usually see the best results.
Clients with darker skin require a more cautious approach and as already mentioned, may suffer hypo pigmentation. Fortunately in most cases this is only a short-term effect and disappears after a few months.
People with dark skins will have a greater number of treatment sessions to minimize the risk of hyper pigmentation (excessive colour) or hypo pigmentation (excessive fading). There is also a risk of keloid scarring with darker skin types.
Therefore treatment for these patients will start cautiously and with lower light energy pulses followed by careful evaluation of how the skin is reacting.
Conclusion
A person with the type of skin and genetic predisposition that could cause this person to have rosacea is also the skin type and genetic predisposition for which tattoo removal using IPL will be the most successful.